LesterLyles

Yes I agree, the mature trees really add a great feel to those few blocks. I am surprised that so many parts of downtown and OTR don't in fact have mature trees. What happened, did they all die and get re-planted? For an older city, this surprises me.

Have to say that I am dissappointed on the lack of progess over the last 4 months at this park. After a very exciting opening and 3 months of totally dry wealther (followed by a bit of a wet September), there has been very little progress. Sure there has been a bit of prp work for just east of the park and now some activity just west but in 3 prime dry months, there should have been a lot more. Seems a lot of the time was tearing the piping up and redoing it, which is also what is going on at Fountain Square.

What are they building right off of the entrance ramp on 71? It is not the same site as Rookwood exchnage but is closer to the ramp. Anyone know?

Not necessarily sure you are correct there. Given tower place already housed dozens of retailers and restuarants, I don't think that would really be an issue.

I think Tower Place could be a great location/space for a large urban grocery market i.e. one of the 2 story ones you see in larger cities. A larger dorothy lane. It would have covenient parking, a very central downtown location close to a lot of resedential/futurel resedential and could get a great lunch crowd (many of the urban markets have great prepared foods/deli areas and ample seating). Furthermore I think the building as it is curretnly configured would allow for easy food delivery. Thoughts?

US Bank is opening a full service Banking Center on Main and 12th. I know this is not the most exciting development that OTR has seen but I think it is significant. We have all been calling for more service businesses to open as a compliemtn to all the entertainment venues and hopefully other banks/ service companies follow their lead. Obviously more businesses means more foot-traffic which means more need for additioanl business = vibrant community. Kudos to US bank who took the lead here.

those tasteless suburbanites.. Damn them.

Yes, new restaurants are a great thing and I think although there have been some casualties i.e. Bartini, Walnut St. Grill, Le Boxx, the net number is positives and as mentioned, overall the qualty has improved dramatically. I do think Mercer will be a game changer in that area, becase it will singificantly imact the critical mass. I think a few resendential high rises south of Central Parkway in CBD would have a simial effect. 5th and Race is a great start.

Agree, between the Banks and Gateway, it seems that it is now saturated with restaurants/entertainement. I will say that the additions have certainly contributed to a much improved restaurant scene but it would be nice to see some other businesses open to provide a more complete neighborhood experience i.e. banks, services, pharmacies, small businesses etc.

They received devil money. Didn't some Butler county gov't clown refer to federal money as devil money?

excellent point by OTR. No dount Cdowntown needs resendial density but there is plent of opportunity, even with a historic building or two not used for that purpose. It was very obvious, though, that Cincy's hotel scene was very lacking. I mean compare it to Indy and Cincy falls way short. Same with Cleveland. These recent hotel additions and/or rennovations are much needed and I think you will see the city benefit from a convention and event perspective.

Good choice for the casino location.

I agree that it is bittersweet. on the positive, a classic building will find new life and I think a newly done hotel will continue to boost the visitor perception of downtown (can't tell you how many visitors are ho-hum on our hotel offerings). That being said, it does in fact limit the possinility Terrace Plaza being renovated for hotel purposed and in the banks for that matter. By the same token though, wouldn't 100 units of resendential lessen the possibility of new downtown condos being built, perhaps on surface lots? I guess the argument goes both ways.

yeah, I thought it would be a challenge to move the children's museum from Union terminal but I think as part of a hotel complex, it could be a really attractive venue/destination,especially in the heart of downtown. I stilll think the urban core could use additional toursit attractions and something that is kid friendly that would attract families would be grea. I always thought Cincy's children museum was just ok so maybe a change of venue could be a positive? I like the movie theatre idea but would it bring folks downtown? Probably only if it is something unique

What do you think would be a good use for the windowless section of that building? Something touristy would be ideal. Children's museum?

I can't imagine City Blights is being serious.

everything this weekend was ridiculous on the crowds front.

thx, although summer tends to see higner numbers, that is trending to be a very low volume. Good news.

anyone have Cincy's murder total YTD? Thx

I think a real interesting model for MLS (and this is a bit off topic) is to model it after the European leagues with several divisions that promote the best teams and demote the bottom teams. If you all of a sudden have 4 divisions of 20 teams each, you would create a TRUE national sport because essentially you'd have a presence in the top 70 markets with the top 5 metro markets i.e. NY, LA etc likely having 2 teams. I think you would really create a stronger national interest in soccer with this format and obviously Cincy would get a team in such a model. Are U.S. sports ready for the promotion/demotion structure? Not so sure but MLS could certainly be a guinea-pig.

I think with the potential of hosting the 2022 world cup, Cincy was among 100+ cities evaluated as a host city and was eliminated in the first go around. I am sure that has something to do with hotel space and also that in the US, they have seveal 75k+ venues to choose from. As mentioned MLS is going to the soccer specific model so a new stadium would have to be built. I also have doubts whether the hilljacks in this town would support soccer. Maybe if you throw in a weekly HS football game of the week, there would be some buy in for a new stadium. I do disagree with the earlier poster, though, that the Reds don't draw well. The half empty seats you see from time tio time is a baseball wide issue. They are smack in the middle as far as attendance; it's a non issue.

well, I continue to believe US Bank Arena is a very dated facility in an absolutely terrible location, considering it is our primary arena. Compared to most cities, access is very bad, and aestehitics, both inside and outside are terrible. I think most here forsee a neew facilityat a different location some time in the future (near future hopefully). So, what to do in that space? I think an Ohio River/ Steam Ship/ History of Cincinnati museum would be perfect for that area. Obviously the river is a very important part of our history and the steam ships were as well. Such a museum right off of the Public Landing is a perfect location and to be in walking distance from the Banks makes a lot of sense. Perhaps a large replica of a steam boat as well as some arhetecture to replicate the river buildings of the time. Maybe it would be a bit Disney-esque as far as the replicas but quite frankly, such a museum could use that touch and I think it would highlight our history a lot more than it is now, which is buried in a larger museum ceter.

Lack of rentals in OTR and CBD in general is an issue. Are the numbers there for a individual (outside of 3cdc) to purchase a place south of Liberty, say by Washington park or Pendleton, invest to make it modern and liveable and also make a profit? I'd be curious what the financial dynamics are these days. Why aren't more individuals doing that? Cranley tried to convice me years ago that the numbers just don't add up for that. but I wonder if that is still the case.

Fusian will be moving out of Tower Place to 600 Vine, right next to Tazza Mia (vacant space just east of it by the alley). Don't be surprised if a location opens in Clifton as well before year end.

My wife and I laugh at that poll all the time (we watch that newscast) becasue the answers are so outlandish. When there is anything to do with Obama, it literally is like 90 to 10 against him. With Romney, it is like 70/30 against him. Santorum usually got the nmost favorable results. Anything with downtown is usually in the 70 and up against. Streetcar 80 and up against. I picture these westside folks over 60 who never leave their area as the ones responding to those polls; I don't know how else to explain the numbers; they are actually comical when you think about it.